Metaldehyde Slug Pellet Ban Announced

The main constituent in conventional slug pellets, metaldehyde, is to be banned in 2020 announced. The reason cited is an unacceptable risk to wildlife. Metaldehyde based slug pellets will be withdrawn from sale in 6 months.

It will be legal to use metaldehyde based pellets after 2020 under cover – basically poly tunnel growing farmers, presumably with a licence to use pesticides.

I don't use these as metaldehyde is banned under organic standards.

Ferrous phosphate based pellets are my preferred slug control method. They work just as well if not better than metaldehyde pellets but in a different way. Metaldehyde causes the slugs to dehydrate leaving the trails of slime and dead bodies on the surface. Ferrous phosphate stops them eating so the slug goes back underground to die.

You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening.